Kal Penn[1], actor and former White House staffer, at an Obama for America Colorado Youth Summit

About 100 young people turned out yesterday for an Obama for America Colorado Youth Summit with actor and former White House staffer Kal Penn.

Penn, also known as Kumar from the “Harold and Kumar” movies, was there to fire up the crowd before a morning of training exercises, telling the roomful of volunteers they will be critical to President Obama[2]’s re-election effort – just as they were in getting him elected four years ago.

“Your voice and your opportunity to reach out to your friends … is something you can’t replace,” Penn said.

The summit was part of the wider Young Americans for Obama effort. But not every young person at the Denver office was supportive of the president.

Ellie Wallace[3], the Republican National Committee’s Colorado spokesperson, and two other supporters of presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney were waiting outside to greet Penn. They held signs that referenced Penn’s best known movie, “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.” One read: “Hey Kumar – Under Obama, I owe equivalent of 12,941 double jalapeno cheeseburgers in student loans.”